The Federal Government has announced that it has identified 15 entities, comprising nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly engaged in financing terrorism. These details were disclosed in a statement released by the Nigerian Intelligence Unit on Tuesday night, titled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024.” According to the document, the Nigeria Sanctions Committee convened on March 18, 2024, and recommended specific individuals and entities for sanction due to their involvement in terrorism financing.
“The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has consequently appointed the following individuals and entities to be included on the Nigeria Sanctions List,” the document stated.
One of the individuals mentioned in the document is Tukur Mamu, a publisher based in Kaduna, who is presently undergoing trial by the Federal Government for purportedly assisting the terrorists responsible for the March 2022 attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.
As per the document, Mamu allegedly “engaged in terrorism financing by accepting and transferring ransom payments totaling over $200,000 USD to support ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.”
The document also mentioned an individual suspected of attacking St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5, 2022, and the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja on July 5, 2022.
Another individual was identified as “a member of the terrorist organization Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, which is linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. This individual received training and served under Muktar Belmokhtar, also known as One Eyed Out, leading the Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali.”
The NFIU stated that this individual “specializes in crafting clandestine communication codes for terrorists and is also an expert in Improvised Explosive Devices.”
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According to the document, Mamu allegedly took part in financing terrorism by receiving and transmitting ransom payments exceeding $200,000 USD to aid ISWAP terrorists in securing the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
The document identified one individual as the suspected perpetrator of the attacks on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5, 2022, and the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja on July 5, 2022.
Another individual was characterized as a member of the terrorist organization Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, which is linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. This individual underwent training and served under Muktar Belmokhtar, also known as One Eyed Out, leading the Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali.
The NFIU stated that this individual specializes in creating clandestine communication codes for terrorists and is also an expert in Improvised Explosive Devices.
